Family staycation in the city: InterContinental Singapore

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Read on to find out about my first-ever family staycation at InterContinental Singapore.

My hubby and I had been trying to plan for a family holiday since the start of the year.

However, every time we tried to narrow down possible destinations and check out the prices of air tickets, our ‘holiday ideas’ always ended up hanging in the air.

I was also a bit worried about how our 1.5-year-old toddler would react to a new environment that’s quite different than what she’s used to. During our trip to Malaysia last year, she was very unsettled during the first 2 days and refused to sleep during her normal bedtime.

She was barely a year old then, and we’ve not been away from home since that trip — so, I wasn’t sure what to expect now that she’s bigger and more alert of her surroundings.

And then came the opportunity to go on a staycation at InterContinental Singapore.

A warm welcome from InterContinental Singapore!

I’ve heard of friends who went on staycations with their little ones, but have not been on one myself. So this came at just the right time!

The best part was that I didn’t have to deal with the booking of air tickets, checking of passports to ensure that they were valid, and packing practically ‘the whole house’ for the trip.

The hotel

One of the best things about InterContinental Singapore is the great location!

The view of Bugis+ from our room.

Sitting right in the centre of Bugis meant that there’s plenty to see and do. Just outside the hotel’s back door is the Bugis Junction shopping mall, where I got to pick out a few things at a great bargain, thanks to the Great Singapore Sale (GSS).

Checking in for our staycation was pretty fast and easy, and we were greeted with warm smiles by the staff at InterContinental Singapore.

Even our doorman was sporting enough to pose for the camera!

Smiles from our friendly doorman!

The room

We were given a corner Deluxe Room during our staycation, which was more spacious compared to the regular Deluxe rooms.

The first thing my hubby did was to check out the beverage counter to see what’s available for his caffeine fix later in the day.

I, on the other hand, was more interested in the king-sized bed. Since our daughter insists on sleeping with us, our sleeping arrangement on the queen-sized bed at home can get a tad ‘squeezy,’ so I was looking forward to having more room on the king-sized bed during this staycation.

The hotel also kindly provided a Graco baby cot for us to use. This delighted our 1.5-year-old to no end, and she enjoyed having her own cute little corner in the room.

The bathroom came with a separate toilet and shower area, which was a huge plus for us.

What’s even better was that a baby bathtub and a full set of Pigeon baby toiletries was also provided for our use.

What we loved most:

The towels and bed linens were changed quite regularly during our stay. Whenever we stepped out of the room for meals or to shop, we almost always came back to fresh towels and neatly made beds.

The beverage counter and toiletries were also generously replenished.

The facilities

We went down to the 4th floor of the hotel to check out the swimming pool. There was a main pool right in the middle, a spa pool and a shallow baby pool.

The fitness centre is operated by Clark Hatch, and is open to members and hotel guests. It may not be very big, but it has a good variety of equipment that seem to be well-maintained.

Room service

Our staycation package came with a $50 dining credit, which can be used at selected restaurants and bars in the hotel, as well as for in-room dining.

Since we felt like having some food in the middle of the afternoon, and the toddler was fast asleep, ordering from room service was our best bet.

We were told that our orders will be sent up to our room in 20 minutes. Much to our surprise, it reached our room in the next 10 minutes or so.

Great food

Whenever we go on a holiday, the first thing that my husband and I look forward to at the start of the day is the buffet breakfast at the hotel we’re staying in.